VIVA NOLA December 2018

OUT & ABOUT
THE
CARNIVAL
EXCHANGE
PROJECT
by Angela hernandez
When it comes to Mardi Gras, local dance
group Dile Que Nola, likes to celebrate it
?a lo Cubano.? For the past three years,
the rueda de casino group has worked to
bridge the gap between New Orleans and
Cuba through The Carnival Exchange
Project.
According to Dile Que Nola?s Executive
Director Nicole Goldin, the Carnival
Exchange Project was created to
celebrate and educate the community on
Cuban culture. The five-day festival is not
only geared towards education through
dance but also as a means of cultural
exchange between Cubans and New
Orleanians. At the end of the festival,
attendees parade on Mardi Gras day as
one krewe during the Zulu parade.
"The project was an idea of my friend
Abril Baloney. She has a company called
Diaspora Travel Experiences and she has
been hosting intercultural exchanges with
Cuba,? said Goldin. Baloney?s idea for the
first year was to bring a school from Cuba
that would teach the Cuban folkloric
dances. In return, New Orleanians would
travel to Cuba to share their culture.
Although The Carnival Exchange Project?s
inaugural year was a success, the festival
hit a snag in its second year due to
immigration sanctions. This made it
difficult to bring one of the Cuban
instructors. Sponsors also backed out,
causing a financial strain, but the
initiative continues.
Now in its third year, Goldin is hoping to
bring instructors from Cuba if they can
find sponsorships, and she encourages
business owners, organization leaders
and individuals to consider one of their
Dile Que Nola and Cuban exchange dancer s at the 2018 Zulu Par ade. Photo:
The Car nival Exchange Pr oject.
different
sponsorship
levels to make
the exchange
with Cuba
happen. The
Carnival
Exchange
Project is a
501(c)(3)
organization
and the
sponsorships
are tax
deductible.
If she can?t
secure sponsorships, Goldin is
determined to continue with the project
and her alternative plan is to bring in
Cuban nationals who reside in the United
States or neighboring countries.
?Regardless, we are going to bring Cuban
talent, but ideally we would to give
people from Cuba an opportunity to
leave the island and share their traditions
and dance skills with us,? said Goldin.
During the festival, attendees can expect
several dance workshops and dance
socials with the unique opportunity to
truly get to know and teach one another.
Instructors have been carefully selected
not just because of their dance level but
also for their ability to foster a sense of
community. There will be a daily
beginners?track for attendees who have
never taken a dance class before.
In preparation for the parade's
choreography, Goldin plans on releasing
the video tutorials in mid-December for
those who are coming from out of state.
Locals will be able to join in the practices
in town at a location to be determined.
Those who would like to participate in the
Carnival Exchange Project can buy their
passes on their website at
thecarnivalexchangeproject.com. Passes
range from a $20 party pass to a $200 full
experience pass. You can find sponsorship
information on the website and contact
Nicole Goldin, by emailing her at
nicolegoldin@gmail.com.
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